Recapping all of the weekend action from the NHRA Northwest Nationals, with great racing across all three classes.
This year’s NHRA Flav-R-Pac Northwest Nationals gave us some history and quite a bit of drama. The weather was as good as any event we’ve seen so far this year, which set up some great side-by-side drag racing.
Coming into race day, the qualifying sheets were topped by Mike Salinas in Top Fuel, John Force in Funny Car, and Gaige Herrera in Pro Stock Motorcycle. Steve Torrence won Saturday’s Mission #2Fast2Tasty Challenge in top fuel. Ron Capps took the bonus race title in Funny Car, and Gaige Herrera won his bonus race in Pro Stock Motorcycle.
Top Fuel Highlights
Clay Millican, Matt Hagan, and Gaige Herrera all had the opportunity to sweep the “Swing” going into Sunday’s eliminations. Millican qualified sixth in a field of only 13 cars. He ran a 3.73 at 328 mph to take out Leah Pruett in the first round. He then had Justin Ashley in the second round.
Coming into the race, both drivers had either lost in round one or made the finals in every race this season. Millican defeated Ashley by running a 3.80 ET at 316, moving him into a matchup with Doug Kalitta in the semifinals. Clay lost traction and had to shut off, losing the semifinals to Kalitta after he ran a 3.81 ET at 328.
Kalitta’s opponent was Steve Torrence, who bested Josh Hart, Brittany Force, and Shawn Langdon on his way to the finals. Neither car ran particularly well in the final round, but it was Torrence getting the double-up and the win at the NHRA Northwest Nationals with his 3.94 ET at 289 mph.
Funny Car Highlights
The funny car field, which also had only 13 cars, was the most entertaining class of the day. Going into Sunday, racer Alex Laughlin made a social media post that included the wrong sponsor for his first-round opponent J.R. Todd.
Both racers had problems at the start, with Todd’s car not wanting to fire. Matt Hagan’s team offered assistance and started the car, but Laughlin’s car was having its own troubles. Todd would go on to win the race after Laughlin was unable to stage under his own power. He later referred to his opponent as a clown in his post-race interview.
Todd went on to beat Cruz Pedregon and Chad Green on his way to the finals.
On the other side of the ladder, Tim Wilkerson took out points leader Matt Hagan, Ron Capps, and Blake Alexander to set up the showdown against Todd in the finals. Wilkerson beat Todd with a 4.00 ET at 321 to take the trophy.
Safe to say @TimWilkerson_FC likes racing at @theplacetorace! He picks up his second win of the season, fourth career in Seattle. @FlavRPac #NorthwestNats • @CampingWorld • @jcmnitro pic.twitter.com/htWIi1lh7P
— NHRA (@NHRA) July 24, 2023
Pro Stock Motorcycle Highlights
Despite this being the first-ever appearance at the NHRA Northwest Nationals for motorcycles, only 14 bikes made the trip. Of those, the Vance & Hines team was the dominant bunch of the weekend. Gaige Herrera defeated Lance Bonham and Hector Arana Jr. on his way to his sixth final-round appearance of the season.
His opponent would be his teammate Eddie Krawiec. Krawiec beat Ryan Oehler, Chase Van Sant, and Matt Smith to set up the all-Vance & Hines final round. Gaige Herrera continued his dominance, taking the win with a 6.76 ET at 198. He is now the only person with an opportunity to sweep the “Swing”, should he win next weekend in Sonoma.
